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Giant African snail invasion lands part of Florida in quarantine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) — Part of Southwest Florida was placed under quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of one of the most damaging snails in the world.The giant African snail, or "GAS" for short, (it can also be called giant African land snail, or "GALS") can consume at least 500 different types of plants and be devastating to Florida's agriculture, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. More than 4,000 giant snails collected in Pasco County quarantine zone Not only does this slimy species possess a mighty appetite, "the snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans," the department wrote in an online quarantine advisory.However, the latest quarantine efforts in Florida's Lee and Pasco counties are not the state's first attempts at eradicating the species.The giant African snail has been eradicated from Florida twice already. The snail was first detected in 19...

Ringling Bros. circus to tour again, minus animals — Chicago area stop included

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has been reimagined and reborn without animals as a high-octane family event with highwire tricks, soaring trapeze artists and bicycles leaping on trampolines.Feld Entertainment, which owns the “Greatest Show on Earth,” revealed to The Associated Press what audiences can expect during the show's upcoming 2023 North American tour kicking off this fall.The 75 performers from 18 countries will include performers on a triangular high wire 25 feet off the ground, crisscrossing flying trapeze artists, a spinning double wheel powered by acrobats and BMX trail bikes, unicycle riders and skateboarders doing flips and tricks.The tour kicks off in Bossier City, Louisiana, from Sept 29-Oct. 1.It has six scheduled performances at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont from November 3 - 5, 2023. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Brookfield Zoo named 5th best zoo in new poll The tour also includes stops in Ohio, Wisconsin, Penn...

Anand Announces $1.4 Billion Upgrade To Dwyer Hill Counter-terrorism Training Centre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

Almost Half of Central and West African Schools are Closed in Burkina Faso

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

Austin ISD schools to get $4 million in federal funding to help narrow equity gap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a perfect world, all Austin Independent School District campuses would be equitable in terms of resources and opportunities. While the district strives for this, that's not the case yet, according to school officials and Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin. That's why Doggett and AISD were thrilled to partner together, announcing $4 million in federal funding that'll be distributed among 36 campuses district-wide. These campuses, a school official said, are in lower income areas. The money will fund two new projects: outdoor learning spaces and launching a college and career preparation pilot. This would specifically support more outdoor learning spaces, outdoor classrooms, and exhibits, according to an AISD school official. It would even fund field trips for outdoor learning experiences, more college visits starting with kids as young as 5th grade, a district-wide internship program, industry partner visits and more. This story will be updated by Repor...

Williamson County looks at animal shelter expansion with Georgetown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County's no-kill animal shelter could expand, again, to add another city to the areas the county shelter helps. Williamson County commissioners approved a feasibility study to see how the shelter can grow on its five acres of land and how many kennels could be added to the shelter. But the decision was divided in a 3-2 vote. PREVIOUS: Georgetown City Council hears proposal for county shelter taking over city shelter An expansion would add Georgetown to the group of cities that the county shelter serves. The cities currently include Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto and Leander. For Georgetown to join the shelter, the member cities would need to approve the addition.The city of Georgetown began exploring a county partnership in November. A potential merger would give the regional facility all operations of Georgetown’s shelter. Jack Daly, the assistant public works director, said the city needs a new shelter and is already spending $800,000 ...

Warming back to the 80s starting Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The chill is over as we look to several afternoons with highs in the lower half of the 80s. That won't happen today but will beginning tomorrow. Southerly winds have returned to give us those warmer temperatures.That south wind has also returned moisture which resulted in the dense fog that continued into the afternoon along with areas of drizzle/light rain/mist. Some .10" to .25" rain totals have been measured since midnight in some of Travis Co. BLOG: April showers: Here's the outlook for Central Texas A low rain chance will continue this afternoon. Look for another round of drizzle/light rain/mist along with fog to develop overnight to Wednesday morning's commute. First Warning: Next Threat of Severe ThunderstormsWe have been tracking the next upper level storm system that this afternoon is moving through the eastern Pacific Ocean towards the central California coast. This low will travel into the southern Rockies by Thursday drawing in more moisture from the P...

Biscuit-centric restaurant now open across from Mears Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

The former Handsome Hog space across from Mears Park in Lowertown St. Paul has reopened as a biscuit-centric restaurant called Big Biscuit Bar.The eatery, helmed by Executive Chef Aaron Cave and Chef de Cuisine Matt Running, will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.The menu includes breakfast sandwiches — on biscuits of course — smothered biscuits and a handful of other southern breakfast items, including shrimp and grits and country-fried steak.There’s a full bar serving breakfast cocktails beyond the bloody Mary, such as a breakfast old-fashioned, Irish coffee and a mezcal-based drink called Coffee and Smoke. There is also a full bloody Mary menu that uses Lovejoy bloody Mary mixes. There’s a full coffee program, too.Madison Restaurant Group President Carol March said the eatery is also focusing on curbside service. Starting in the next week or so, workers will run your biscuit sandwich and a coffee out to your car for you so you can get to work faster. Prices are reaso...

Cette veste vient d’où? Stillwater letter jacket found in Paris thrift shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

Lars Stannard was browsing in a secondhand shop in Paris a few days ago when he spotted a familiar red-and-black article of clothing – a Stillwater Area High School letter jacket.Stannard, a 2016 graduate of the high school, snapped a few photos and sent them to SAHS French teacher Amy Saur Budion via Instagram on Monday morning.A Stillwater Area High School letter jacket found in a secondhand shop in Paris. (Courtesy of Amy Saur Budion)The back of a Stillwater Area High School letter jacket found in a secondhand shop in Paris. (Courtesy of Amy Saur Budion)Show Caption of Expand“I’m wondering if you had anything to do with this,” he asked his former teacher.Budion, who chaperones trips to France for the high school and also teaches at Stillwater Middle School, assured him that she had not, but she offered to help find out the name of the jacket’s former owner. She posted two photos that Stannard had sent to her on Instagram and Facebook with the following message: “Help solve the my...

Bap and Chicken on Grand Avenue closing next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:11 GMT

Bap and Chicken, the Korean fried chicken spot on Grand Avenue, is closing.The restaurant posted a message on social media, thanking patrons for their business and setting March 25 as the eatery’s last day in business.Here’s the message:“To all of our guests: It is sooner than we envisioned, but the time has arrived that we must say our goodbyes.“In this moment we want to show gratitude to the community that has supported us over the last 3+ years. The smiles that turned into regulars, the curiosity that changed to knowledge of Korean American cuisine, and the adoptees that chose to honor their story of adoption with us. All of these memories we will remember fondly as we focus on the appreciation for the opportunity we’ve had to gain your friendship.“A message from John (Gleason), the owner: To the team of Bap and Chicken, many of whom you have been with us since day one — you have helped make our business what it has become. A strong, kind and inclusive space. I ...